Just Cause Dev Hiring for Projects on "Next-Gen Platforms"

Internet sleuthing reveals future proofing.

By Joe Skrebels

Avalanche Studios has begun hiring for a project being developed for "both current and next gen platforms."

Noted by NeoGAF user (and job listing spotter supreme) Nirolak, listings for a Technical Director and a Senior Multiplayer Programmer at the developer's Stockholm studio both reference working on the studio's next "open world / sandbox multiplayer engine".

Given that next-gen is only mentioned with regard to the company's engine, not a specific game, it may well be that this is a matter of future-proofing (although other listings in Stockholm do mention "an unannounced AAA title").

It seems unlikely that Avalanche has specifics on the next generation of consoles but, at the very least, it feels as though the development industry is beginning to turn its collective eye towards what comes next.

Earlier this month, Final Fantasy XV director Hajime Tabata began discussing what will come next from his team, and told DualShockers that it's aiming for a release on next-gen consoles.

Mid-generation upgrades PS4 Pro and Xbox One X have complicated the established idea of console generations - seemingly including for the console manufacturers themselves.

Ori & the Blind Forest developer Thomas Mahler has previously referred to the One X as a "full-blown next-gen machine", while Xbox's Aaron Greenberg said it will bring an end to console generations.

On the other side of the fence, PlayStation's Shuhei Yoshida has reportedly said he's unsure if there will be a PS5, but Mark Cerny has said the PS4 Pro isn't a console designed to blur the lines between generations.

It may be that no firm decision has been made by either console maker, but it seems as though developers are coming up with contingency plans.

With regard to Avalanche itself, it's notable that much of this current work work appears to be with regard to multiplayer experiences. Famously, the Just Cause series has relied on fan support to create multiplayer mods - it seems Avalanche wants to take that job in-house in future.

Joe Skrebels is IGN's UK News Editor, and he still wants a a console called Neo. Follow him on Twitter.

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